Courier girls cross country preview

Tuesday

Aug 30, 2011 at 12:01 AM

5 Runners to Watch

IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

Kasey Brown, Archbishop Wood: Last year, as a freshman, she finished 37th in the PIAA Class AAA championships. She also won the Philadelphia Catholic League Northern Division championship, was third in the PCL meet and runner-up in District 12. She and teammate Casey Ortiz will challenge St. Hubert's Teresa Ortiz for tops in the league and district.

Ann Herman, Pennsbury: The senior has already qualified for the state meet three times. Her best finishes were 17th as a freshman and 21st as a junior.

Emma Mahony, Villa Joseph Marie: The senior is coming off a season that ended with a fourth-place showing in the PIAA Class AA race, a big improvement from finishes of 62nd as a freshman and 43rd as a sophomore. She was the runner-up at both the District One and Athletic Association of Catholic Academies meets. She ran a personal-best 18:55.41 a year ago at the conference championships.

Sara Sargent, Pennsbury: The junior won the PIAA crown as a freshman and was sixth as a sophomore. Last spring, she was the runner-up at the state track and field championships in the 3,200-meter run.

Kate Scott, Council Rock North: A junior, she was overshadowed last year by teammate Lindsay Rheiner, who was a state champion. Scott had a nice season, taking 35th at states, 11th in districts and fourth at the Suburban One League National Conference race.

5 Meets to Watch

IN CHORONOLOGICAL ORDER

Seventh Annual John Sharp Viking Invitational, Friday, 5:05 p.m.: Archbishop Wood will host the race, which takes place on a 3.1-mile course at Southampton's Tamanend Park. The competition will include Central Bucks West, Central Bucks East and Methacton. "Last year, we were fourth in our own invitational and seventh in the state," coach Fran McLaughlin said.

Mill Street Run, Sept. 10, 8:30 a.m.: The 44th annual run through the streets of Bristol Borough attracts a number of local schools. It's a flat, 2.9-mile course. Council Rock North lost by a point last season to Council Rock South, but that was with eventual state champion Lindsay Rheiner on a trip to the U.S. Naval Academy.

Penn Track XC/Puma Invitational, Sept. 10, 10 a.m.: Pennsbury, the defending PIAA Class AAA champion, will be among the competitors on a Kutztown University course that has a downhill start. So will runner-up West Chester Henderson. Homer Center's Angel Piccirillo, the reigning AA champion, is in the field. "I really want to see where the girls are against top competition," coach Don Little said.

Ocean State Invitational, Sept. 24, 12:25 p.m.: McLaughlin would like to see his Vikings start to jell at this meet, which takes place at Goddard State Park in Warwick, R.I.

PIAA Foundation Invitational, Sept. 24, 10:15 a.m.: Teams will head to Hershey, with hopes of returning six weeks later. "We'll get to see how the girls run on the state course," Little said.

5 Teams to Watch

LISTED BY STRENGTH

Pennsbury: The Falcons are the defending PIAA Class AAA champions and are 18th in Marc Bloom's Super 25 preseason rankings. West Chester Henderson, North Penn and Council Rock North will be among the top teams in the district. Strong state teams include North Hills, which features sisters Margo, Shannon and Mary Malone.

Council Rock North: The Indians were sixth in the state last year. Champion Lindsay Rheiner is gone, but Kate Scott, Taylor Campbell, Emma Barbagallo and Nicole Van Thuyne are back after nice seasons a year ago.

Archbishop Wood: The Vikings were District 12 champions and seventh in the state last season. They'll be challenged by Cardinal O'Hara and St. Hubert in the Philadelphia Catholic League and the district. Five of their top seven return. "If everything works out, we have a chance to be better than we were last year," McLaughlin said.

The season: Freshman Francesca Balla is expected to contribute to what should be an improved program that has 16 runners, up from 10 a year ago. Brackett and Natala Balla were the leaders of a group that ran a lot earlier in the summer and spent time at a gym. Brackett should have a much better season now that she isn't bothered by a persistent blister.

Conwell-Egan

Coach: Kelly Armstrong (second year)

Last year: N/A

Roster: Sabrina Rosta Soph.

The season: Armstrong, who coaches about a dozen boys at CEC, hopes to build the girls roster when school opens next week.

The season: There is pretty good depth, with 30 girls running and contributions expected from seniors Ashlin Kimmel and Emma Barbagallo and freshman Sarah Caldwell. Robbins would like to be undefeated heading into the regular season finale with Pennsbury. The coach is hoping for a return trip to states. He sees Pennsbury, West Chester Henderson, Central Bucks West, North Penn and Downingtown East as the biggest obstacles.

Council Rock South

Coach: Christine Marsden (fifth year)

Last year: 4-2 (4-2 SOL National)

The season: The Golden Hawks were 13th in the District One meet in 2010, and should improve on that showing.

The season: A strong junior class includes Susannah Perkins. Prial is expected back soon from a fractured foot. There are about 20 girls on the team, which finished third in the Friends League last year. Moyer hopes to challenge Germantown Friends for the title. The coach is excited to be able to work out on the school's new track, which should be ready soon.

The season: The Redskins should be improved, with sophomore Nicole Malageri looking to crack the top five. Neshaminy has a good chance to get a couple of SOL victories and maybe go .500. "If we go 3-3, that would be a very successful season," Harnish said.

The season: The Falcons are the defending PIAA champions and lost two runners from that squad. Coach Don Little would like to see his top five girls finish in the top 25 at the state meet. "That's very difficult to do," he said.

The season: While Mahony rightly gets the most attention, Twomey placed 60th at states last fall and was the seventh freshman to cross the finish line. Villa, which is co-coached by John Gentile, will also rely on seniors Reilly Geiss and Shannon McDonald and sophomore Danielle DeColli.

The season: There are 24 girls in the program. Tennent lost three starters, but Mabone is a returning state qualifier with hopes of placing in the top 25 this year. "I think we will be improved," Shapiro said. "The younger kids are a year older. That obviously helps."

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